Two medicines, side by side
Gemfibrozil vs atorvastatin
Gemfibrozil and atorvastatin are both labeled for heart attack and coronary artery disease and high cholesterol. Drugs@FDA records approvals of gemfibrozil since 1981 and of atorvastatin since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.104 per gemfibrozil 600 mg tablet and $0.0228 per atorvastatin 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Atorvastatin's other strengths are brand-only: $1.23 per mL (Atorvaliq 20 mg/5 mL suspension). In FDA's classes, gemfibrozil is a peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha agonist and atorvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the gemfibrozil FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 10, 2026); the atorvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2024).
Highlights of the gemfibrozil record
Gemfibrozil (Lopid) · label of April 10, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsGemfibrozil Tablets are indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for: Treatment of adult patients with very high elevations of serum triglyceride levels (Types IV and V hyperlipidemia) who present a risk of pancreatitis and who do not respond adequately to a determined dietary effort to control them. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 21, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 27 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.104 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the atorvastatin record
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) · label of April 15, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsLIPITOR is indicated: • To reduce the risk of: o Myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in adults with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) but without clinically evident CHD o MI and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with multiple risk factors for CHD but without clinically evident CHD o Non-fatal MI, fatal and non-fatal stroke, revascularization […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 17, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 59 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0228 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 53
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Gemfibrozil label of April 10, 2026, Atorvastatin label of April 15, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do gemfibrozil and atorvastatin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, gemfibrozil is a peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha agonist and atorvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
Half-life, in each label's words: Gemfibrozil, “Peak plasma levels occur in 1 to 2 hours with a plasma half-life of 1.5 hours following multiple doses.”; Atorvastatin, “Mean plasma elimination half-life of LIPITOR in humans is approximately 14 hours, but the half-life of inhibitory …”
Only the gemfibrozil label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: gemfibrozil since 1993; atorvastatin since 2011 (Drugs@FDA).
| Gemfibrozil | Atorvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High cholesterol, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High cholesterol, Angina, High triglycerides, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Peroxisome Proliferator Receptor alpha Agonist | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | LIPITOR is a selective, competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including cholesterol. |
| Half-life (label) | Peak plasma levels occur in 1 to 2 hours with a plasma half-life of 1.5 hours following multiple doses. | Mean plasma elimination half-life of LIPITOR in humans is approximately 14 hours, but the half-life of inhibitory activity for HMG-CoA reductase is 20 to 30 hours due to the contribution of active metabolites. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 21, 1981 | December 17, 1996 |
| First generic approved | January 25, 1993 | November 30, 2011 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 27 labelers | 59 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.104 per tablet (Gemfibrozil 600 mg tablet) | $0.0228 per tablet (Atorvastatin 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +2% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 53 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 15,090 | 245,894 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Atorvastatin label, drug interactionsDrug Interactions that may Increase the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis with LIPITOR Cyclosporine or Gemfibrozil
Atorvastatin label, warnings and precautionsConcomitant use of cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, tipranavir plus ritonavir, or glecaprevir plus pibrentasvir with LIPITOR is not recommended.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to gemfibrozil
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions